April 3, 1895
Diary, what an eventful day it has been!
Yesterday, after I ran back to the carriage and barely had time to compose myself, Papa came back and said there was no reason why we ought to delay things and that on the morrow, he would take me to meet with my aunt and uncle, as business was even more pressing than he had been led to believe.
My heart of course, slumped to the bottom of my toes, or so it felt, because nothing I had heard of Aunt or Uncle had been of a promising nature thus far. Then too, it meant Papa was leaving sooner than expected, and I was not at all sure that I wanted to be thrust into a strange household all alone so soon.
Chin up though, as Papa says. I did quite like Cousin Irene… perhaps it won’t be utterly bleak after all.
***
Later
As our carriage came to a stop in front of their townhouse, apprehension was uppermost in my mind and made itself felt somewhere deep in the center of my being.
As we alighted, Papa took my elbow and told me that he was quite proud of me, and nobody else’s thoughts –especially if they were contrary to his– mattered. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and we went up the few steps and he knocked firmly on the door.
A butler who seemed to both relish his position and yet seemed heavily put upon when we encountered his person, showed us with great respect and curiosity to the sitting room. I tried desperately not to look at Cousin Irene, who –I ought to add– was not doing a very convincing job of pretending not to know me. She kept casting furtive glances from under her lashes, and I could tell her toes were fidgeting underneath the hem of her dress. It made me all the more nervous because I did not know if I could keep a straight face, but I was also rather excited because what fun it would be to gab about all this after with her! I am ashamed to admit that I did vaguely wonder if she had any more of the delicious rolls she had pressed into my hand the day before.
I saw Uncle Peter through a vague lens of shyness and awkwardness. He did not seem as forbidding or contrary as Papa had seemed to think him to be, and was quite charming when he greeted me. But I noticed that Aunt Alice was eyeing me with uncertainty though she was every bit the welcoming hostess.
When they introduced Irene and me as cousins however, she did the most outrageous thing and uttered that I most positively did not look like the heathen Aunt Alice had mentioned me to be!
I was quite maddened by this. Here was what Papa had said about Aunt Alice coming to life before my very eyes. I wondered if Aunt Alice was going to be insufferable towards me, and I felt a coldening chill start to take hold of my heart. I stiffened. She did look shocked and ashamed, so perhaps she isn’t obstinate in her views, but I was a bit hurt that she could think any of Papa’s blood could be heathen. I wonder if she likes me, or if she is simply pretending to for Papa’s benefit and the sake of manners.
We sat down and had tea, and while the three of them nibbled on biscuits and sipped tea occasionally, Irene and I were allowed to make conversation. We devoured our sweets furtively, and to all appearances were accomplished and elegant young ladies in the making.
But our conversation went something like this…
“Do you find the weather here to be very different from… from where you were in China?”
I nodded. “It’s a bit warmer but still very mild mostly. Do you think we will have many fine days this spring?”
Irene, “I do hope so, I have many plans for picnics and outings in the park.”
“All well?” she whispered in an aside.
I nodded. I assumed she meant how I found the encounter.
“You’re having a room next to mine!” she giggled excitedly. At this, Aunt Alice straightened forbiddingly and looked up from over her teacup, “Young lady, if I may call you as such, do remember to act more sensibly!” At which, Cousin Irene straightened her back and went back to simpering over her teacup.
I giggled. Papa frowned. And to the despair of the adults, Irene and I both lost our composure in a fit of the giggles, and were consigned to go to Irene’s bedroom. Which, I do think was the best arrangement for all concerned. I’m sure Papa had a lot to discuss with them that he would not want me to hear, and as for myself, I only wanted to have a grand time with my rather exciting cousin. She asked about Mama, and did I think she would be able to come visit England sometime. We talked about our dream beaux, too, which led to us discussing romantic novels… She has already promised to share some incredibly fascinating books with me which touch on topics that might not be considered the arena of proper young ladies yet…
